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Massachusetts to Receive $25 Million from Feds for Wind Turbine Testing Center

05/13/2009
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)  has awarded $25 million in funding for a new Wind Technology Testing Center to be constructed in Boston, Massachusetts, according to the DOE and the Massachusetts governor's office. The new center will test commercial-sized wind turbine blades and will be the first test facility in the United States capable of testing blades longer than 50 meters. The funding for the center will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. "This is part of President Obama's broad agenda to make sure that our country leads the world in capturing the clean energy jobs of the future," says Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a statement. "As the world moves toward a significant expansion in wind power, the test blade facility will help make sure that the best, most efficient wind turbines are built right here in America. Not only will it create jobs and help us achieve energy independence, it will mean cleaner air, cleaner water, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions." According to the Associated Press, the longest turbine blades currently in commercial use are about 60 meters long, but companies are exploring the use of blades up to 75 meters long; the Massachusetts center will be capable of testing blades up to 90 meters in length. The DOE says construction will begin on the facility in September and should be completed by the end of 2010.

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